Tondela vs Rio Ave – News and Probable Lineups

As Tondela sit in 16th place with two points separating them from 15th-placed Rio Ave, the two teams prepare for a crucial fixture at Estadio Joao Cardoso this Monday evening.

The Gold and Greens have displayed commendable tenacity lately, remaining unbeaten in their last five games (W1, D4), and they aim to extend this streak against opponents who have not won in seven matches (D1, L6).

Match overview

After experiencing six losses in his first eight Primeira Liga matches since his appointment in November (W2), Cristiano Bacci will take heart from Tondela’s recent tenacity. His focus will now be on steering the team towards a more consistent series of victories.

Despite having four draws during their unbeaten five-match period, the Gold and Greens could not build on their victory over Estrela Amadora last week, settling for a 2-2 draw with Santa Clara at Joao Cardoso last weekend.

Having regained the lead through Rodrigo Conceicao on the hour, Tondela conceded a late penalty in the 88th minute, with Serginho converting for the Azoreans, who still trail Bacci’s team due to an unfavorable head-to-head record.

The Gold and Greens have now netted precisely two goals in three of their last four matches, an improvement after failing to score in the four matches prior. They hope that this newfound attacking prowess will be crucial this weekend, understanding that a win would lift them out of the relegation zone.

Nevertheless, their home performance at Joao Cardoso raises some concerns, as the Beira club has managed only one victory in 12 league matches at the venue this season (D5, L6); only bottom-placed AVS (7) have earned fewer home points than Tondela’s eight.

On the other hand, Rio Ave has struggled since the start of the year, earning the fewest points in the league (4), though they finally broke a six-match losing streak with a goalless draw against Famalicao last weekend.

This draw saw Sotiris Silaidopoulos’s side achieve their first clean sheet in 16 Primeira Liga outings, yet they have continued to struggle in front of goal, failing to score in six of their last seven matches while netting just once during this sequence.

Rio Ave has also drawn blanks in their last four away fixtures, all of which resulted in defeats — a troubling record for a team looking to avoid falling into the relegation zone.

However, the Vila do Conde side can draw confidence from their recent head-to-head encounters, having claimed victory in three of their last four league meetings with Tondela, including a commanding 3-0 win in the previous match back in October.

Team News

Tondela faced additional fitness issues at the end of last weekend’s showdown with Santa Clara, as midfielder Juan Rodriguez and winger Rony Lopes both had to leave the pitch, casting doubt on their availability for Monday’s match.

Emmanuel Maviram might miss out for a fifth straight game due to injury, and forward Jordânia Pefok is still grappling with a muscle issue, making his involvement uncertain.

On a positive note, Cicero and South African midfielder Siphephelo Sithole are set to return to the squad after serving suspensions due to accumulated bookings last weekend.

For Rio Ave, Brandon Aguilera remains out for several months with a torn knee ligament and is not anticipated to return until next season. In the meantime, goalkeeper Cezary Miszta is nearing a comeback from a back injury that has kept him sidelined since mid-January.

Centre-back Julien Lomboto has been absent from the last three matchday squads, as has January loan signing Leonardo Buta, so both players are doubtful for Monday’s contest.

Having witnessed his team secure their first clean sheet in five months, Silaidopoulos might continue to rely on the central defensive tandem of Jakub Brabec and new recruit Gustavo Mancha.
Bernardo; Bebeto, Marques, Medina, Conceicao; Hodge, Sithole; Maranhao, Cicero, Aiko; Siebatcheu

Tondela probable starting XI:

Bernardo; Bebeto, Marques, Medina, Conceicao; Hodge, Sithole; Maranhao, Cicero, Aiko; Kimpioka

Rio Ave probable starting XI:

Van der Gouw; Brabec, Mancha, Abbey; Vrousai, Nikitscher, Spikic, Richards; Bezerra, Folgado Monteiro, Blesa

Despite their unsatisfactory results, Rio Ave has shown some improvement in their performance levels over the past weeks and will aim to build on the confidence gained from last weekend’s clean sheet.

Nonetheless, they are up against a Tondela team that has shown determination in recent matches, suggesting a cautious contest may unfold between two sides acutely aware of what’s at stake, with a draw being a likely outcome.